NORTHWEST COLORADO NEWS AND SPORTS FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND

KRAI/55 COUNTRY HOLIDAY DRIVE TAKES PLACE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

The 93-7/102-3 KRAI and 55 Country Holiday Drive is coming up this week. Radio station staff and volunteers will once again gather outside the Centennial Mall in Craig, taking donations of non-perishable food, new and unwrapped toys, gifts for seniors and cash. Those agencies benefitting from the drive are Advocates Crisis Support Services, the Interfaith Food Bank of Craig, Christmas for Kids, and Christmas for Seniors. The agencies have submitted lists of the items they need the most. You’ll find that list along with other information by clicking the Holiday Drive link above. The drive will take place from 6 in the morning until 6 in the evening Thursday and Friday.

CRAIG VNA OFFERS CHANCE TO REMEMBER LOVED ONES DURING HOLIDAYS

Once again, the Craig Visiting Nurse Association is providing an opportunity for residents to honor the memory of a loved one during the holidays. The VNA will have their Celebration of Light Tree available for decoration next week. The 2 hour event will provide an opportunity for people to create a Christmas Tree ornament that will hang on the VNA’s Celebration of Light Tree through the holidays. Ornaments and supplies will be provided, and those that would like to keep their ornaments can get them back after the holidays. If you’d like to create an ornament, show up at the Craig VNA December 9th between 5:30 and 7:30. If you need more information, call 871-7682.

COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE ENROLLS LARGE AMOUNT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Colorado Mountain College is seeing a large number of students taking advantage of in-state tuition rates for immigrants without legal residence. CMC which has nine campuses across western Colorado, including in Steamboat, had 148 students who are immigrants who grew up in Colorado. That’s more than the University of Colorado, which has roughly 43 students across its three Front Range campuses. The Metropolitan State University of Denver has 348 students enrolled under the law. Metro State has offered in-state tuition to undocumented students since 2012. CMC vice president Lin Stickler says the school has recruited students by placing ads in Spanish-language newspapers and sending recruiters to high schools looking for eligible students.

CYBER MONDAY EXPECTED TO BE BIGGER THAN BLACK FRIDAY

American’s are expected to make today the largest Cyber Monday ever and the U.S. Postal Service says it is ready to deliver on those online purchases. The Postal Service will handle more than 420 million packages this holiday season, an increase of more than 12 percent over last year. Typically viewed as the ceremonial kickoff to the online holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday represents one of the few billion-dollar online spending days of the year and for the first time, more people are expected to shop online on Cyber Monday than in brick-and-mortar stores on Black Friday. According to market research company Forrester, 167 million shoppers will take to the Web to buy presents, gadgets, and goods this holiday season, spending an average of $472 for the holiday season. Last year, the US saw $68.4 billion in sales and the year before it was $59.5 billion.

WILDLIFE OFFICIALS REMIND RESIDENTS TO DECORATE WITH WILDLIFE IN MIND

The holiday season has kicked off, and Christmas decorations are starting to appear throughout neighborhoods. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking residents to decorate with wildlife in mind. Wildlife officials say strings of holiday lights can cause problems for wildlife, such as deer or elk that might get tangled. During mating season, buck deer like to rub their antlers. They can get caught up in Christmas lights, if they start rubbing against a decorated outdoor tree or fence. Wildlife officials recommend putting lights high enough so that wildlife can’t reach them. Firmly attaching cords to limbs, fence posts, or buildings can also keep animals from getting tangled. For more information, visit the Parks and Wildlife website.

CASES OF WHOOPING COUGH SURGING IN COLORADO

Responding to a recent surge in cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment urges Coloradans to ensure they’re up to date on vaccinations. One hundred new cases of pertussis were reported in the second half of October. In the first 10 months of 2013, 1,116 cases of pertussis were reported. Colorado has seen epidemic levels of pertussis over the past two years. The 1,494 cases in 2012 made it the state’s worst year for whooping cough, surpassing the 1,383 cases in 2005. Though the recent increase is widespread, the most of the new cases were in Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver and Jefferson counties. Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract that spreads easily through the air in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The illness often starts with cold-like symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. The cough becomes more severe during the first week or two, and often is characterized by episodes of rapid coughs (coughing fits), followed by a high-pitched whoop, or a coughing fit followed by vomiting. The cough may last for a couple of months and is more frequent at night.

The Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday, giving them sole possession of 1st place in the division. The Broncos next game will be Sunday, when they host the Tennessee Titans. You can catch that game live on 55 Country, with the pregame at noon and the kickoff at 2.